MONROE - Green County Corporation Counsel William Morgan has filed a motion in Green County Circuit Court to require the owner of 20 dogs seized earlier this week to pay for custody of the animals.
Morgan on Thursday asked the court to authorize the county to sell, put down or dispose of the animals and also asked that the owner of dogs, Bonnie K. Bitz, 46, Juda, be required to pay for care, custody and treatment of the animals.
Green County Sheriff's deputies confiscated 20 dogs Sunday from Bitz's residence in Jefferson township, after deputies observed conditions at the farm consistent with animal neglect.
Bitz was arrested on tentative charges of animal neglect, booked and released from Green County Jail. She is scheduled to make her first court appearance March 31.
Seventeen dogs, mostly smaller mixed breeds, were taken from inside the home; three were taken from outside, out of concern for their health and safety.
The conditions inside the home were "consistent with 17 dogs doing everything in the house ... living their entire lives there," Green County Chief Deputy Jeff Skatrud said. "It was about as filthy as you can imagine."
According to Skatrud, there was neither adequate food nor outside shelter for the dogs, who were inside living in fecal matter. Skatrud said there is no running water on the property.
All 20 dogs were transported to the humane society shelter.
GCHS Director Tonya Kelly said the inside dogs were Chihuahua terrier mixes and one black Labrador. The outside dogs were collie mixes. The dogs ranged in age from 3 months to 8 years.
The outside dogs were in "rough shape" she said, and there was evidence the inside dogs had been fighting. Two animals needed surgery.
Deputies first were called Sunday to the W3500 block of Middle Juda Road for a report of horses running loose, but the horses on the farm were not removed. Deputies determined the emergency situation was with the dogs.
Morgan on Thursday asked the court to authorize the county to sell, put down or dispose of the animals and also asked that the owner of dogs, Bonnie K. Bitz, 46, Juda, be required to pay for care, custody and treatment of the animals.
Green County Sheriff's deputies confiscated 20 dogs Sunday from Bitz's residence in Jefferson township, after deputies observed conditions at the farm consistent with animal neglect.
Bitz was arrested on tentative charges of animal neglect, booked and released from Green County Jail. She is scheduled to make her first court appearance March 31.
Seventeen dogs, mostly smaller mixed breeds, were taken from inside the home; three were taken from outside, out of concern for their health and safety.
The conditions inside the home were "consistent with 17 dogs doing everything in the house ... living their entire lives there," Green County Chief Deputy Jeff Skatrud said. "It was about as filthy as you can imagine."
According to Skatrud, there was neither adequate food nor outside shelter for the dogs, who were inside living in fecal matter. Skatrud said there is no running water on the property.
All 20 dogs were transported to the humane society shelter.
GCHS Director Tonya Kelly said the inside dogs were Chihuahua terrier mixes and one black Labrador. The outside dogs were collie mixes. The dogs ranged in age from 3 months to 8 years.
The outside dogs were in "rough shape" she said, and there was evidence the inside dogs had been fighting. Two animals needed surgery.
Deputies first were called Sunday to the W3500 block of Middle Juda Road for a report of horses running loose, but the horses on the farm were not removed. Deputies determined the emergency situation was with the dogs.